I'll be right to play, says McGrath, but there's a doubt behind the scenes

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Glenn McGrath has declared himself fully recovered from his elbow injury ahead of the fifth Test, which Australia must win to save the Ashes.

As the Australians were encouraged to clear their minds and return to their natural instincts at The Oval from Thursday - and by former Australian captain Ian Chappell to attack with five bowlers, including Stuart MacGill - McGrath expressed immense confidence in his team's ability to retain the urn.

The 35-year-old's fitness is crucial to that ambition, and he told Britain's Mail on Sunday, the newspaper to which he is contracted, that he would play at The Oval.

England's own fitness concerns led them on Sunday to name a 13-man squad for the fifth Test, which included injury doubt Simon Jones and call-ups for James Anderson and Paul Collingwood. Chris Tremlett, included in England's squad for the four previous Tests, was dropped.

Chairman of selectors David Graveney said England would give swing bowler Jones, who has an ankle problem, as much time as possible to prove his fitness.

If he fails, Lancashire paceman Anderson would provide a like-for-like replacement, or Durham all-rounder Collingwood could be used to strengthen the hosts' batting.

While Australian officials have been encouraged by McGrath's progress in recent days, they urged caution and stressed the fast bowler had not yet been passed fit.

McGrath was scheduled to have a fitness test in the nets during Australia's weekend warm-up match at Chelmsford, and looked tentative when he bowled for the first time on Friday since developing the elbow problem before the fourth Test.

Australian coach John Buchanan, who acknowledged there would be calls for change after the Ashes, said some players had suffered from over-analysis during their teetering campaign and they were being told to view the final Test as a one-match tour.

"This do-or-die mindset should serve the group well," Buchanan explained in his column in The Observer.

"We've probably over-analysed our game on this tour. Cricket is a one-ball game, but sometimes players think too much about what's gone before and what the consequences of their actions will be.

"They'll tense up going for a catch, conscious of not letting England get away to a flyer, for instance. Or they'll wonder about playing a favourite shot because of the situation, instead of relaxing and reacting to the moment, letting their skills take over.

"Sure, we know we've dropped too many catches, missed too many run-outs, bowled too many no-balls. But it's now reached a point where all the players can do is trust their instincts and just go out and play. It does not get simpler than that.

"We'd be foolish to go away from this series and imagine everything will be rosy when we get home.

"If there is change to be made, I hope it is done properly, not in a reactionary way."

Chappell, a regular critic of the tactics used by Buchanan and captain Ricky Ponting, said he liked what he saw of Ponting's aggressive leadership in the second innings at Trent Bridge, where England slumped to seven wickets down in pursuit of 129.

"If [Ponting] really wants to live up to his nickname, Punter, he should plump for five bowlers and include Stuart MacGill in the XI for the last Test," Chappell wrote in his column in the London Sunday Telegraph.

"That would require leaving out a batsman and playing Adam Gilchrist at No.6, a risky ploy given the trouble [of] the top order so far in the series, but it might just help concentrate the minds of the batsmen on making a big score."

Chappell said struggling opener Matthew Hayden should be spared the axe, because this was not the time to blood a new opener, and that Simon Katich could be the unlucky batsman to miss out.

But he said the ICC Super Series against the rest of the world in October was the time for change, and this was when Mike Hussey and Brad Hodge should be tried at Test level.

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1125772409544-smh.com.auhttp://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/ill-be-right-to-play-says-mcgrath-but-theres-a-doubt-behind-the-scenes/2005/09/04/1125772409544.htmlsmh.com.auSydney Morning Herald2005-09-05I'll be right to play, says McGrath, but there's a doubt behind the scenesChloe Saltau in ChelmsfordSportCricket